THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINA 


THE  COLLECTION  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINIANA 
PRESENTED  BY 

Mrs.  Sprague  Silver 


Cp378 
SII4NI 


HINTS.  1 


RITE  OF  CONFIRMATIOJ^, 


ADDRESSED  TO  THE  PUPILS 


St.  Mary's  School. 


RALEIGH,    N.  C. 
1  869. 


HIlsTTS 


ON  THE 

SITE  OF  comm 

TO  THE  PUPILS  OF 

St.  Scijooi, 

RALEIGH,  N.  C. 
1869. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2014 


https://archive.org/details/hintsonriteofconOOsmed 


HINTS 

ON 

THE  RITE  OF  CONFIRMATION, 


Passages  of  Scriptuee  relating  to 
Confirmation,  which  must  be  care- 
fully STUDIED,  AND  OUGHT  TO  BE  COM- 
MITTED TO  MEMORY. 

Acts  vizi:  5,  6,  12,  14,  15,  16,  17. 

"  Then  Philip  went  down  to  the  city  of 
Samaria,  and  preached  Christ  unto  them. 

And  the  people  with  one  accord  gave 
heed  unto  those  things  which  Philip 
spake,  hearing  and  seeing  the  miracles 
which  he  did. 

But  when  they  believed  Philip  preach- 
ing the  things  concerning  the  kingdom 
of  God,  and  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ, 
they  were  baptized,  both  men  and  wo-. 
men. 


s 


4 


Now  when  the  Apostles  which  were 
at  Jerusalem,  heard  that  Samaria  had 
received  the  word  of  God,  they  sent  unto 
them  Peter  and  John. 

Who  wlien  they  were  come  down, 
prayed  for  them  that  they  might  receive 
the  Holy  Ghost. 

For  as  yet  he  was  fallen  upon  none  of 
them :  only  they  were  baptized  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

Then  they  laid  their  hands  on  them, 
and  they  received  the  Holy  Ghost." 

Acts  XIX :  1 — 7. 

"And  it  came  to  pass,  that  while  Apol- 
los  was  at  Corinth,  Paul  having  passed 
through  the  upper  coasts,  came  to  Epli- 
esus,  and  finding  certain  disciples.  He 
said  unto  them.  Have  ye  received  the 
Holy  Ghost  since  ye  believed?  And 
they  said  unto  him.  We  have  not  so  much 
as  heard  whether  there  be  any  Holy 
Ghost, 

Aiid  he  said  unto  them,  Unto  what 


5 


then  were  ye  baptized  ?  And  they  said, 
Unto  J ohn's  Baptism. 

Then  said  Paul,  John  verily  baptized 
with  the  baptism  of  repentance,  saying 
unto  the  people,  that  they  should  believe 
on  him  which  should  come  after  him,  that 
is,  on  Christ  Jesus. 

When  they  heard  this,  they  were  bap- 
tized in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 

And  when  Paul  had  laid  his  hands  up- 
on them,  the  Holy  Ghost  came  on  them, 
and  they  spake  with  tongues,  and  proph- 
esied. 

And  all  the  men  were  about  twelve." 
Hebrews  m:  1,  2. 

"Therefore  leaving  the  principles  of  the 
doctrine  of  Christ,  let  us  go  on  unto  per- 
fection, not  laying  again  the  foundation 
of  repentance  from  dead  works,  and  of 
faith  towards  God  of  the  doctrine  of  bap- 
tisms, and  of  laying  on  of  hands,  and  of 
resurrection  of  the  dead,  and  of  eternal 
judgement." 

From  the  fir^t  of  these  passages  we 


6 


learn  that  Philip  the  Deacon,  was  the  in- 
strument by  his  miracles  and  preaching 
of  converting  the  Samaritans,  and  that 
he  baptized  them ;  but  that  Peter  and 
John,  two  of  the  apostles,  went  from  Jeru- 
salem to  Samaria  to  lay  their  hands  on 
them. 

The  order  ofrelio-ious  exercises  among: 
the  Samaritan  converts^  was  the  follow- 
ing :  Repentance,  Faith,  Baptism,  under 
the  ministrations  of  Philip,  and  the  lay- 
ing on  of  Hands,  or  their  confirmation,  by 
the  apostles. 

Thus  the  passage  teaches  us  the  quali- 
fications for  confirmation,  the  obligation 
of  it,  and  the  officer,  by  whom  it  is  ad- 
ministered. The  qualifications  are  re- 
pentance whereby  we  truly  sorrow  for 
our  sins,  and  really  forsake  them ;  Faith 
whereby  we  steadfastly  receive  all  the 
doctrines,  precepts,  and  promises  of  the 
Gospel  as  the  word  of  God,  which  alone 
is  able  to  save  our  souls  ;  and  Baptism, 
whereby  in  our  infancy,  or  by  our  own 


7 


mature  choice,  we  have  become  the 
members  of  Christ,  the  children  of  God, 
and  the  inheritors  of  the  kingdom  of 
Heaven. 

The  obligation  to  receive  confirmation, 
or  the  laying  on  of  Hands,  is  manifest 
from  the  fact  that,  like  baptism,  it  was 
received  by  all  the  Samaritan  converts. 

The  officers  to  administer  it,  are  evi- 
dently the  Apostles,  or,  as  their  successors 
are  now  called,  the  Bishops  of  the  Church. 

Philip  the  Deacon  could  preach  and 
baptise;  but  he  could  not' confirm.  The 
Apostles  Peter  and  John,  went  down  to 
Samaria,  and  laid  their  hands  on  the  con- 
verts. 

From  the  passage  in  the  19th  chapter  of 
the  Acts,  we  learn  the  same  truths.  The 
disciples  mentioned  in  it  had  received  the 
baptism  of  repentance  from  John.  They  . 
were  baptized  by  St.  Paul  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord  Jesus,  of  course  after  a  profes- 
sion of  faith  in  Him. 

They   had,  therefore,  Repentance, 


8 


Faith  and  Baptism.  Then  Paul  laid  his 
hands  on  them,  or  as  we  should  say,  con- 
firmed them.  Here  are  precisely  the 
same  exercises  and  in  the  same  order, 
Repentance,  Faith,  Baptism,  the  laying 
on  of  Hands. 

But  says  an  objector,  did  not  miracu- 
lous gifts  accompany  this  laying  on  of 
Hands,  and  was  not  the  rite  of  a  tem- 
porary nature,  designed  to  cease,  when 
these  miraculous  gifts  were  no  longer 
conferred  ? 

To  this  objection  we  reply  in  the  words 
of  the  1st,  and  2nd  verses  of  the  6th 
chapter  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews. 
"Therefore  leaving  the  principles  of  the 
doctrine  of  Christ,  let  us  go  on  unto  per- 
fection ;  not  laying  again  the  foundation 
of  repentance  from  dead  -works,  and  of 
faith  toward  God,  of  the  doctrine  of  bap- 
tisms, and  of  laying  on  of  hands,  and  of 
resuiTection  of  the  dead,  and  of  eternal 
judgment."  Here  we  have  Repentance, 
Faith,  Baptism,  and  the  Laying  on  of 


9 


Hands,  reckoned  among  the  principles  of 
the  doctrine  of  Christ,  in  connection 
with  Resurrection  of  the  dead  and  Eter- 
nal Judgment. 

Does  not  the  order  in  which  the  lay- 
ing on  of  Hands  is  here  mentioned  show 
unmistakeably  that  it  is  the  same,  of 
which  we  have  instances  in  the  case  of 
the  Samaritan  and  Ephesian  converts  ? 
If  so,  is  it  not  a  principle  of  the  Doctrine 
of  Christ,  and  therefore  of  permanent 
and  universal  obligation'  in  his  Church  ? 

To  these  questions  the  voice  of  the 
universal  Church  has  always  answered  in 
the  affirmative,  and  by  it  the  apostolic 
rite  of  confirmation  has  been  handed 
down  to  us,  tracing  its  origin  and  its 
authority  to  these  passages  of  Holy 
Writ. 

Going  back  during  a  period  of  little 
more  than  300  years,  we  find  the  "  laying 
on  of  Hands"  prevailing  every  where 
among  Christians  whose  ministry  sup- 
plied the  Officer,  alone  competent  to  this 


10 


function;  while  during  the  1500  years 
which  preceded  that  period,  from  the 
days  of  the  Apostles  down,  it  was  uni- 
versal in  the  church. 

We  think  then  it  is  clearly  established 
that  the  "  laying  on  of  hands"  after  re- 
pentance, faith,  and  baptism,  is  an  ordi- 
nance of  the  gospel,  obligatory  upon  all 
the  followers  of  Christ. 

Being  an  outward,  visible,  and  im- 
pressive sign  of  allegiance,  it  is  the  meth- 
od in  which  the  children  of  the  Church 
declare  their  renunciation  of  the  world, 
and  their  determination  by  God's  help  to 
lead  a  sober,  righteous  and  Godly  life. 

The  circumstances  of  the  Church  in 
these  latter  days,  make  it  pecuuliarly  in- 
teresting and  valuable  in  this  connection. 
The  children  of  most  Christian  parents 
are  admitted  to  baptism  in  their  infancy. 
It  is  the  theory,  the  wish,  the  prayer,  the 
expectation  of  the  Churh,  that  being  thus 
made  the  members  of  Christ,  the  children 
of  God,  and  the  inheritors  of  the  King- 


11 


dom  of  Heaven,  they  should  be  trained 
up  by  their  parents  and  sponsors  "  in  the 
nurture  and  adomonition  of  the  Lord," 
and  made  to  lead  the  rest  of  their  life, 
according  to  this  beginning,"  so  that 
when  arrived  at  an  age  to  "  refuse  the 
evil  and  choose  the  good,"  they  should  be 
prepared  and  disposed  to  assume  for 
themselves  in  the  "  laying  on  of  Hands," 
the  vows  and  promises  of  their  baptism, 
and  thus  secure  a  right  to  eat  the  child- 
ren's bread,  and  drink  of  their  cup,  at 
the  table  of  their  Lord.  But  alas,  owing 
in  part  to  the  failure  of  their  spiritual 
guardians,  and  in  part  to  the  ungodliness 
of  the  world  around  them,  too  general- 
ly, their  baptismal  robes  are  soiled  with 
the  pollution  of  wilful  and  grievous  sins ; 
while  often,  they  wander  far  away  from 
their  "  father's  house,"  and  retain  scarce 
a  single  trace  of  their  adoption  into  his 
family.  Immersed  in  the  pursuits  and 
pleasures  of  this  world,  exclusively,  they 
are  not  to  be  distinguished  from  its  most 


12 


devoted  followers.  At  length,  however, 
a  voice  reaches  them  in  their  estrange- 
ment, reminding  them  of  their  forfeited 
privileges  and  neglected  duties;  and  call- 
ing upon  them,  "  Come  out  from  among 
them,  and  be  ye  separate,  and  touch  not 
the  unclean  thing ;  and  I  will  receive  you, 
and  will  be  a  father  unto  you,  and  ye 
shall  be  my  sons  and  daughters,  saith 
the  Lord  Almighty."  Then  in  the  tones 
of  the  blessed  Saviour  they  hear,  "whoso- 
ever, shall  confess  me  before  men,  him 
will  I  also  confess  before  my  Father 
which  is  in  Heaven."  Pricked  to  the 
heart  with  a  sense  of  their  departure  from 
the  ways  of  God,  truly  sorry  for  their 
folly  and  wickedness,  sincerely  turning 
to  a  sober,  righteous,  and  Godly  life,  and 
heartily  believing  the  gracious  promises 
which  lure  their  return,  how  adapted  to 
their  wants,  how  beautiful  in  their  eyes, 
how  welcome  to  their  hearts  and  how 
appropriate,  impressive,  solemn,  and  af- 
fecting in  the  sight  of  all,  must  seem  that 


1^ 

simple  rite,  by  means  of  which  they  are 
enabled  to  come  out  from  the  world,  to 
separate  themselves  from  the  ungodly, 
to  join  the  ranks  of  Christ's  disciples, 
and  thus  to  confess  him  before  angels 
and  before  men,  while  in  the  "  lay- 
ing on  of  Hands,"  by  God's  chief  min- 
ister upon  earth,  they  receive  the  assu- 
rance of  a  welcome  back  to  their  father's 
house,  and  a  foretaste  of  the  grace, 
through  which  they  are  hereafter  "to 
fight  the  good  fight  of  faith,  and  lay  hold 
on  eternal'  life,  whereunto  they  are  call- 
ed," and,  in  this  holy  rite,  "have  professed 
a  good  profession  before  many  witnes- 
ses." 

What  wonder,  that  in  view  of  its 
scriptural  authority,  and  its  intrinsic 
beauty  and  utility,  our  Church  has  shown 
her  sense  of  its  necessity  by  ordering  that 
none  shall  be  admitted  to  the  Holy  com- 
munion, until  such  time,  as  he  be  con- 
firmed, or  be  ready  and  desirous  to  be 
confirnaed. 


14 


Bo  you  then,  my  dear  child,  feel  yoitr^ 
self  to  be  a  sinner,  exposed  to  the  wrath 
or  God,  and  utterly  without  resource  of 
hope,  except  in  his  boundless  mercy 
through  Jesus  Christ  ?  Do  you  repent 
of  your  sins  being  truly  sorry  for  them, 
and  heartily  striving  to  forake  them, 
and  to  turn  unto  the  Lord  your  God  ? 
Do  you  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the 
Son  of  God ;  that  He  is  the  Lamb  of  God 
that  taketh  away  the  sins  of  the  world ; 
that  He  so  loved  you  as  to  die  upon  the 
cross  for  you  ;  that  He  has  bought  you  by 
his  own  precious  blood  ;  that  His  is  the 
only  name  given  under  Heaven  whereby 
you  can  be  saved  ?  Do  you  desire  to 
glorify  Him  in  your  body,  and  your 
spirit,  which  are  his ;  to  come  out  from 
the  world,  and  confess  Him  before  men, 
as  your  Lord  and  your  God  ;  to  present 
yourself  to  Him  a  living  sacrifice,  holy, 
and  acceptable  in  His  sight,  as  is  your 
reasonable  service ;  for  his  sake  to  deny 
ungodliness  and  worldly,  lusts,  and  to 


15 


live  soberly,  righteously,  and  Godly  ia 
this  present  world,  looking  for  that  bless- 
ed hope  and  the  glorious  appearing  of 
the  great  God,  and  our  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ,  who  gave  himself  for  us,  that  He 
might  redeem  us  from  all  iniquity  and 
purify  unto  himself  a  peculiar  people 
zealous  of  good  works?  Oh  do  these 
questions  touch  your  heart,  and  does  it 
respond.  Lord,  "  I  abhor  myself,  and  re- 
pent in  dust  and  ashes"  ;  "  Lord,  I  be- 
lieve, help  thou  mine  unbelief";  Lord,  by 
the  aid  of  thy  Holy  Spirit,  I  will  take 
up  my  "  cross,  and  follow  thee,"  striving 
"to  keep  the  commandments  of  my  God"; 
then,  I  may  say  to  you,  now  is  the  accept- 
ed time  for  your  confirmation  in  these 
good  desires  and  purposes.  Now  you  are 
meet  to  receive  that  grace  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  which  is  imparted  in  the  laying 
on  of  Hands.  Now  you  are  prepared,  in 
humility,  but  in  faith,  and  hope,  and  love, 
to  approach  that  table  w^hich  a  Saviour's 
i   love  has  spread,  to  which  confirmation, 


16 


is  a  title  and  a  welcome,  and  at  which, 
you  will  receive  such  supplies  of  grace, 
in  your  times  of  need,  as  shall  nourish 
your  soul  unto  everlasting  life. 

PASSAGES  OF  SCRIPTURE. 

To  he  devoutly  pondered  by  the  Candi- 
date for  Confirmation, 

Repentance, — Ps.  li.  Joel  ii:  12,  13, 
Daniel  12:  3-10.  Mat.  iii:  1-12.  Luke 
xiii:  1-3.  Acts  iii:  19-21.  Rom.  ii:  4. 
2  Cor.  vii :  9-11.  Luke  xxii :  62.  Luke  xv. 

Faith— ^i^,  xi.  Mark  ix :  24.  Matt, 
XV  :  22-28.  John  lii :  14-21,  also  36.  Acts 
xiii:  38,  39.  Rom.  iii:  19-28.  Rom.  v :  1. 
Gal.  iii:  16-20.  James  ii:  20-23. 

Baptism, — Mark  xvi  :  16.  Matt 
xxviii:  19.  John  iii :  1-7.  Acts  ii :  37- 
39,  Acts  ix:  18,  Acts  xxii:  12-16. 
Acts  xvi:  25-34.  Rom.  vi :  3-13.  Gal. 
iii:  26,  27.  1  Cor.  xii:  12-13,  27.  Eph. 
V  :  25-26.  1  Pet.  iii  21,  22.  Tit.  iii:  5,  6, 

Obedience. — Ps  i.  Ps  xv.  Ps  xix: 
7-11.  1  Sam.  XV  :  22.  Matt,  vii:  21. 
John  viii:  31,  32.    John  vii:  16,  17. 


17 


John  xiv:  15.  John  xv :  8-14.  John 
xiii:  34,  35.  Rom.  xii.  1  Cor.  xiii. 
Eph.  vi:  10-18.  2  Cor.  v:  13,  14,  15, 
17.  Phil,  iii :  7-21.  Col.  iii.  2  Pet.  1  : 
5-11. 

Warning.— ProY,  1  :  22-33.  Matt, 
xi:  26.  Luke  xii :  20.  Matt,  xiii  41,  42. 
Matt.  XXV :  31-33,  also  41-46.  Mark 
ix  :  43-48.  2  Thess.  i :  6-10.  2  Pet  iii : 
3-14. 

Micoiiragement. — ^Matt.  xviii  :  2-5. 
Mark  X  :  13-16.  Luke  v  :  30-32.  Luke 
vii:  44-54.  Luke  xv.  Ps  ciii.  Ps  cxlv. 
Isaiah  i:  18.  Is.  Iv  :  1-3.  John  iii :  16. 
•Rom.  V :  8.  Rom  viii :  32.  1  John  iv  : 
7-11.  Matt,  xi:  28-30.  Rev  xxii:  17, 
Rev.  vii:  9-17. 

Blessed  Lord  who  hast  caused  all  holy- 
scriptures  to  be  written  for  our  learning, 
grant  that  we  may  in  such  wise  hear 
them,  read,  mark,  learn,  and  inwardly  di- 
gest them,  that  by  patience,  and  com- 
fort of  the  holy  Word,  we  may  embrace, 
and  ever  hold  fast  the  blessed  hope  of 


18 


everlasting  life,  which  thou  hast  given 
us  in  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  A?nen. 

Brief  heads  of  self  examination  for 
the  candidate. 

1.  Do  I  feel  that  I  am  a  sinner  in  the 
sight  of  God :  that  in  thought,  word,  and 
deed,  I  daily  offend  his  divine  majesty 
most  justly  provoking  his  wrath  and  in- 
dignation against  me  ? 

2.  Do  I  realize  the  horrid  nature  of  sin, 
as  a  tmnsgression  of  the  holy  law  of  God: 
as  the  introducer  of  death  into  the  world 
and  all  our  woe,  as  the  cause  of  the  pres- 
ent misery  and  eternal  ruin  of  the  souls 
of  men ;  and,  above  all,  as  requiring  for 
its  forgiveness  the  agony  and  bloody 
sweat,  the  cross  and  passion,  the  death 
and  sacrifice  of  the  divine  Redeemer  ? 

3.  Do  I  feel  my  guilt  as  a  sinner,  know- 
ing that  I  have  wilfully  strayed  from  the 
ways  of  God  like  a  lost  sheep ;  that  I 
have  yielded  myself  to  the  seductions  of 
the  world  the  flesh  and  the  Devil ;  that  I 
have  resisted  the  convictions  of  con- 


19 


science,  the  admonitions  of  friends  the 
pleadings  of  the  sanctuary,  and  delibe- 
rately preferred  the  broad  and  downward 
road  that  leads  to  ruin  and  despair  ? 

4.  Do  I  realize  that,  as  a  member  of 
Christ,  I  have  been  a  spot  and  blemish 
upon  His  sacred  body  the  Church,  which 
He  has  purchased  with  His  precious 
blood ;  that  as  a  child  of  God,  I  have  wan- 
dered from  my  Father's  house  and  made 
myself  unworthy  even  to  be  called  His 
servant ;  that  as  an  inheritor  of  the  king- 
dom of  heaven,  I  have  been  thankless,  and 
careless  of  my  eternal  portion,  preferring 
the  pleasures  of  sin,  to  the  joys  that  are 
at  God's  right  hand  forever  ? 

5.  Do  I  truly  repent  of  my  folly  and 
guilt ;  am  I  deeply  sorry  that  I  have  dis- 
obeyed my  Father  and  my  God ;  that  I 
have  wounded  my  Redeemer,  who  was 
wounded  for  my  transgressions;  that  I 
have  grieved  the  Holy  Spirit  who  is  my 
sanctifier  ? 

6.  Do  I  forsake  the  sins  which  I  pro- 


20 


fess  to  mourn ;  do  I  cease  to  do  evil ;  do 
I  hate  lying,  deceit,  and  every  false  way  ; 
do  I  endeavor  to  subdue  the  love  of  the 
world,  the  lusts  of  the  flesh,  and  the 
pride  of  life ;  envy,  malice,  hatred,  un- 
charitableness,  and  all  the  evil  desires 
and  passions  which  war  against  God  and 
against  my  soul  ? 

7.  Do  I  learn  to  do  well ;  do  I  perform 
as  faithfully  as  I  can  what  I  know  to  be 
my  duties  in  that  state  of  life  to  which  I 
am  called ;  am  I  obedient  to  those  in  au- 
thority over  me,  not  with  eye  service,  as 
men  pleasers,  but  in  singleness  of  heart, 
fearing  God ;  am  I  considerate,  gentle, 
and  kind  towards  my  equals  ;  am  I  just, 
forbearing,  and  benevolent  towards  my 
inferiors  ;  do  I  redeem  the  time,  making 
the  best  use  I  can  of  the  talents  and  op- 
portunities entrusted  to  me,  knowing  to 
whom  I  must  give  an  account  of  my 
stewardship  ;  do  I  take  pleasure  in  of- 
fices of  love,  as  far  as  they  are  in  my 
power ;  do  I  give  the  cup  of  cold  water 


21 


•  in  the  name  of  a  disciple ;  do  I  make  any 
sacrifice  of  self  that  I  may  do  good  unto 
others,  and  especially  to  them  of  the 
household  of  faith  ;  do  I  endeavor  so  to 
let  my  light  shine  before  men,  that  they 
seeing  my  good  works  may  glorify  my 
Father  which  is  in  Heaven  ? 

1^  8.  Do  I  set  God  always  before  me  ;  do 
I  realise  that  he  searches  and  knows 
me,  that  He  knoweth  my  down-sitting 
and  up-rising,  and  understandeth  my 
thoughts  afar  off;  that  He  compasseth 
my  path  and  my  lying  down,  and  is  ac- 
quainted with  all  my  ways  ;  that  there 
is  not  a  word  in  my  tongue  but  He  know- 
eth it  altogether  ?  Can  I  say,  I  desire 
to  do  thy  will,  O  my  God, — my  meat  is 
to  do  the  will  of  my  Father  in  Heaven  ? 
Do  I  feel  my  dependence  upon  Him  for 
life,  and  health,  and  all  earthly  good 
things,  and  for  the  gracious  supplies  of 

*  that  Holy  Spirit,  which  He  has  promised 
to  give  to  all  who  ask  Him  ?  Do  I  seek 
these  supplies  in  regular,  daily,  and  ear- 


22 


nest  prayer ;  in  the  closet  do  I  bow  my 
knees  unto  the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  that  He  would  grant  me  accord- 
ing to  the  riches  of  His  glory  to  be 
strengthened  with  might  by  His  Spirit 
in  the  inner  man ;  in  the  sanctuary,  do  I 
strive  to  control  my  thoughts,  and  to 
join  in  its  prayers  and  praises,  and  in  all 
its  services,  with  the  spirit  and  with  the 
understanding  ;  can  I  say,  how  amiable 
are  thy  tabernacles,  O  LORD  of  Hosts, 
my  soul  hath  a  delight  in  them, — for  a 
day  in  thy  courts  is  better  than  a  thou- 
sand ;  I  had  rather  be  a  door  keeper  in 
the  house  of  my  God,  than  to  dwell  in 
the  tents  of  wickedness  ? 

9.  What  are  my  feelings  toward  the 
word  of  God  ?  Do  I  realize  that  it  is  in 
truth  the  word  of  God,  which  is  able  to 
save  my  soul  ? — Do  I  see  in  it  the  wis- 
dom which  is  from  above  ?  Is  it  to  me 
the  sword  of  the  spirit,  quick  and  power- 
ful, and  sharper  than  any  two  edged 
sword,  piercing  even  to  the  dividing  a- 


23 


sunder  of  soul  and  spirit,  and  of  the  joints 
and  marrow,  and  a  discerner  of  the 
thoughts  and  intents  of  my  heart  ?  Has 
it  slain  in  me  my  enmity  to  God  and 
holiness  ?  Can  I  say  the  entrance  of 
thy  word  giveth  light,  it  giveth  under- 
standing to  the  simple ;  thy  word  have 
I  hid  in  my  heart  that  I  might  not  sin 
against  thee  ;  thy  word  is  a  lamp  unto 
my  feet,  and  a  light  unto  my  path :  Oh  ! 
how  I  love  thy  law — it  is  my  medita- 
tion, all  the  day ;  the  law  of  thy  mouth 
is  better  unto  me  than  thousands  of  gold 
and  silver ;  how  sweet  are  thy  words  un- 
to my  taste,  yea,  sweeter  than  honey 
unto  my  mouth ;  through  thy  precepts  I 
get  understanding,  therefore  I  hate  every 
false  way ! 

10,  Do  I  feel  that  my  best  works  fall 
infinitely  short  of  the  glory  of  God  ? 
Do  I  realize  when  I  have  done  all  that  I 
can,  I  am  an  unprofitable  servant  ?  Do 
I  know  that  my  holiest  actions  are  stain- 
ed with  sin,  and  need  the  cleansing  of  a 


"24 


Saviour's  blood  ?  Am  I  compelled  from 
a  conviction  of  my  own  utter  weakness 
and  unworthiness,  to  exclaim  with  the 
Apostle,  O,  w^retched  being  that  I  am, 
who  shall  deliver  me  from  the  body  of 
this  death  ?  Can  I  say  with  him,  I  thank 
my  God,  through  Jesus  Christ  my  Lord  ? 
Do  I  look  unto  Jesus,  the  author  and 
finisher  of  my  faith,  as  my  only  hope  ? 
Is  He  the  LORD  my  righteousness,  the 
propitiation  for  my  sins  through  faith  in 
his  blood,  the  Lamb  of  God  which  tak- 
eth  away  my  sins  ?  Do  I  believe  in  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  ?  Do  I  put  my  whole 
trust  in  Him,  knowing  that  his  is  the  on- 
ly name  given  under  heaven,  whereby  I 
can  be  saved  ?  Do  I  love  him  who  first 
loved  me  ?  Do  I  make  any  sacrifice  of 
self  for  Him  ?  Does  the  love  of  Christ 
constrain  me  ?  Am  I  willing,  ani  I  ready 
to  come  out  from  the  world,  to  confess 
Him  before  men,  to  dedicate  to  him  my 
life  and  my  all?  Yea,  do  I  count  all 
things  but  loss  for  the  excellency  of  the 


25 


knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus  my  Lord  ;  and 
count  them  but  dung  that  I  may  win 
Christ  and  be  found  in  him,  not  having 
mine  own  righteousness,  which  is  of  the 
law,  but  that  which  is  through  the  faith 
of  Christ,  even  the  righteousness  which 
is  of  God  by  faith,  that  I  may  know  him, 
and  the  power  of  this  resurrection,  and 
the  fellowship  of  his  sufferings,  being 
made  conformable  unto  his  death,  if  by 
any  means,  I  might  attain  unto  the  resur- 
rection of  the  dead. 

Oh  my  soul,  can'st  thou  find  in  thine 
own  experience  any  response  to  these 
glowing  words  ?  Then  "why  art  thou  so 
cast  down,  why  art  thou  so  disquieted 
within  me?  Hope  thou  in  God  for  I 
shall  yet  praise  Him,  who  is  the  health 
of  my  countenance,  and  my  God  !" 

PRAYERS. 

To  he  used  with  the  other  demotions  of  a 
Candidate. 
O  God,  my  Heavenly  Father,  be  mer- 
ciful to  me  a  sinner.    I  acknowledge  my 


26 


transgressions,  and  my  sin  is  ever  before 
me.  Oh,  wash  me  thoroughly  from  my 
wickedness,  and  cleanse  me  from  my  sins. 
Give  me  to  see,  my  God,  how  earthly, 
and  sensual  and  vile  I  am ;  how  by 
thought,  word,  and  deed  I  daily  offend 
against  thy  divine  majesty,  provoking 
most  justly  thy  wrath  and  indignation 
against  me.  Make  me  to  be  truly  sorry 
for  these  my  misdoings :  niake  me  ear- 
nestly to  repent  of  them.  O,  make  the 
remembrance  of  them  grievous  unto  me, 
the  burden  of  them  intolerable.  Have 
mercy  upon  me,  have  mercy  upon  me, 
most  merciful  Father  !  For  thy  Son  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ's  sake,  forgive  me  all 
that  is  past,  and  grant  that  I  may  ever 
hereafter  serve  and  please  thee  in  new- 
ness of  life,  to  the  honor  and  glory  of  thy 
name,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
Amen. 

Turn  thou  me,  O  good  Lord,  and  so 
shall  I  be  turned.  Hide  thy  face  from 
my  sins,  and  blot  out  all  my  iniquities. 


27 

Create  in  me  a  clean  heart  O  God,  and 
renew  a  right  spirit  within  me.  Cast  me 
not  away  from  thy  presence,  and  take  not 
thy  Holy  Spirit  from  me.  O  my  Heav- 
enly Father,  I  beseech  of  thee  thy  Holy 
Spirit,  which  thou  hast  promised  to  give 
to  all  who  ask  thee.  I  plead  thine  own 
promise.  May  I  ask  in  sincerity,  with  a 
deep  sense  of  my  need ;  in  faith,  with  a 
hmnble  reliance  on  my  Saviour ;  may  I 
ask  so  as  to  receive.  Pour  into  my  heart, 
,0  Lord,  the  abundance  of  thy  grace. 
Strengthen  me  with  might  by  thy  Spirit 
in  the  inner  man.  Deal  bountifully  with 
thy  servant,  O  Lord,  according  to  thy 
word.  Open  thou  mine  eyes  that  I  may 
behold  wondrous  things  out  of  thy  law. 
O  make  my  heart  to  rejoice  in  thy  stat- 
utes, and  make  me  feel  that  they  are 
more  to  be  desired  than  gold,  yea  than 
much  fine  gold,  sweeter  than  honey  and 
the  honey  comb.  Make  me  to  walk,  O 
Lordj  in  the  path  of  thy  commandments^ 


28 


and  to  experience  that  in  keeping  them 
there  is  great  reward. 

May  thy  blessed  spirit  teach  me  to 
know  and  love  thee  the  only  true  God, 
and  Jesus  Christ  whom  thou  hast  sent ; 
and  my  Heavenly  Father,  may  this  time 
be  to  me  a  season  of  refreshing  from  thy 
presence.  May  I  be  enabled  to  obey  the 
call  which  is  now  addressed  to  me.  May 
I  come  out  from  the  world,  and  confess 
my  Saviour  before  men.  Make  me  to 
believe  on  Him  in  my  heart  unto  right- 
eousness, and  to  confess  him  with  my 
mouth,  unto  salvation.  May  I  truly  re- 
nounce for  his  sake,  the  Devil  and  his 
works,  the  pomps  and  vanities  of  this 
wicked  world,  and  all  the  sinful  lusts  of 
the  flesh.  May  I  sincerely  promise,  by 
thy  help,  to  keep  the  commandments  of 
my  God.  O  may  I  dedicate  myself  to 
thee,  my  Father,  my  Redeemer,  my 
Sanctifier,  looking  unto  Jesus  as  my 
Saviour  and  my  Hope,  and  trusting  for 
acceptance,  only  to  His  cross,  Amen, 


29 


CONFIRMATION. 

 They  are  taking  the  baptismal  vow, 

Upon  their  conscious  selves  ;  their  own  lips  s^Dcak 

The  solemn  promise.    Strongest  sinews  fail, 

And  many  a  blooming,  many  a  lovely  cheek 

Under  the  holy  fear  of  God  turns  pale, 

While  on  each  head  his  lawn -robed  Servant  lays 

An  apostolic  hand,  and  with  prayer  seals 

1  he  Covenant.   The  Omnipotent  will  raise 

Their  feeble  souls. 

I  saw  a  mother's  eye  intently  bent 

Upon  a  maiden  trembling  as  she  knelt  ; 

In  and  for  whom  the  pious  Mother  felt 

Things  we  may  judge  of  by  a  light  too  faint; 

Tell,  if  ye  may,  some  star-crowned  Muse  or  Saint ! 

Tell  what  rushed  in,  from  what  she  was  relieved — 

Then  when  her  child  the  hallowing  touch  received, 

And  such  vibration  to  the  Mother  went 

That  tears  burst  forth  amain.   Did  gleams  appear? 

Opened  a  vision  of  that  blissful  place 

Where  dwells  a  sister-child  ?  And  was  powergiven 

Part  of  her  lost  One's  glory  back  to  trace 

Even  to  this  Rite  ?   For  thus  she  knelt,  and,  ere 

The  Summer-leaf  had  faded,  passed  to  Heaven. 

Wordsworth. 

A  PRAYER    IMMEDIATELY    BEFORE  CON- 
FIRMATION". 

O  Godj  the  Father  of  Heaven^  look  in 


30 

mercy  and  forgiveness  on  thy  child  who 
desires  to  return  to  thee  ! 

O  God,  the  Son,  Redeemer  of  the 
world,  wash  me  wholly  from  my  sins  in 
thine  own  precious  blood. 

O  God,  the  Holy  Ghost,  sanctifier  of 
the  faithful,  take  up  thine  abode  in  my 
heart,  and  make  me  a  holy  Temple  to  the 
Lord. 

O  Holy,  Blessed,  and  Glorious  Trinity, 
accept  the  offering  of  myself  which  I 
make  in  soul  and  body,  in  heart  and  life, 
to  thy  service,  now,  and  forever.  Am  em 

O,  happy  da}^  that  stays  my  choice 
On  thee  my  Saviour  and  my  Ood, 

Well  may  this  glowing  heart  rejoice 
And  tell  thy  goodness  all  abroad. 

O  happy  bond  that  seals  my  vows, 

To  Him  who  merits  all  my  love, 
Let  cheerful  anthems  fill  his  house 

While  to  his  sacred  throne  I  move. 

'Tis  done,  the  great  transaction's  done, 
Deign  gracious  Lord  to  make  me  thine, 

Help  me  through  grace  to  follow  on, 
Qlad  to  Qorifess  thy  voicQ  divine. 


Bl 

Here  rest  my  oft  divided  heart 
Fixed  on  thy  God,  thy  Saviour  rest, 

Who  with  the  world  would  grieve  to  part. 
When  called  on  Angel's  food  to  feast. 

High  Heaven  that  heard  the  solemn  vow, 
That  vow  renewed  shall  daily  hear 

'Till  in  life's  latest  hour  I  how 
And  bless  in  death  a  bond  so  dear. 

A  MEDITATION  AFTER  CONFIRM  ATI  0:N". 

O  my  Redeemer,  Captain  of  my  salva- 
tion, I  am  now  enlisted  by  my  own  act 
under  thy  sacred  banner.  O  Thou,  who 
didst  triumph  for  me  upon  the  cross,  with 
garments  stained  with  thine  own  blood, 
enable  me  to  take  up  my  cross  and  fol- 
low thee ;  enable  me  to  have  victory, 
and  to  triumph  over  sin,  the  world,  and 
the  Devil,  and  to  continue  thy  faithful 
soldier  and  servant  unto  my  life's  end. 

Entitled  now  to  every  privilege  of  the 
gospel,  may  I  seek  at  the  table  which 
thy  love  has  spread,  the  food  that  shall 
nourish  my  soul  unto  everlasting  life. 
O  thou  Bread  of  life,  let  me  eat  of  thee, 
and  live  forever.    O  thou  fountain  of 


32 


Salvation,  let  me  drink  of  thee,  and  be 
filled  with  joy  and  peace  in  believing. 

My  God  and  is  thy  table  spread, 
And  does  thy  cup  with  love  overflow  ? 

Thither  be  all  thy  children  led, 
And  let  them  thy  sweet  mercies  know. 

Hail !  sacred  feast,  which  Jesus  makes, 
Kich  banquet  of  his  flesh  and  blood  : 

Thrice  happy  he  who  here  partakes 
That  sacred  stream,  that  heavenly  food. 

Why  are  its  bounties  all  in  vain 
Before  unwilling  hearts  displayed  ? 

Was  not  for  you  the  victim  slain  ? 
Are  you  forbid  the  children's  bread  ? 

O  let  thy  table  honoured  be, 
And  furnish'd  well  with  joyful  guests  : 

And  may  each  soul  salvation  see. 
That  here  its  holy  pledges  tastes. 

Drawn  by  thy  quickening  grace,  O  Lord. 

In  countless  numbers  let  them  come  ; 
And  gather  from  their  Father's  board, 

The  bread  that  lives  beyond  the  tomb. 

Nor  let  thy  spreading  Gospel  rest, 
Till  through  the  world  thy  truth  has  run ; 

Till  with  this  bread  all  men  be  blest, 
Who  see  the  light  or  feel  the  sun. 


